Sustainable quarries are the future

Quarries are buzzing with round-the-clock extraction operations which feed granite and aggregates into the construction and infrastructure industries. When versatile giant equipment operates with high productivity targets and tight deadlines, emission control in mines and quarries becomes a critical focus.

The EU and international emission regulations aim to create a low carbon and energy-efficient economy with goals to reduce greenhouse gases by 20%; reduce energy consumption by 20%, and meet 20% of EUs energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.

The face of mining and quarrying is changing with a keen focus on contributing towards reduced energy consumption and higher energy efficiency. 

From lighting to pumping to power generation, sustainable equipment profiles are becoming an integral part of the quarry portfolio. Here are a few key ingredients in the sustainability strategy for quarries.

With Stage V and Euro 6 diesel engine regulations, advanced fuel-efficient engines are the need of the hour. Forward-thinking construction equipment manufacturers are gearing up to get their machines equipped with the latest technology engines while demonstrating their commitment to a better environmental footprint.

With stricter emission regulations, the transition from diesel to low-diesel consumption equipment to electric models is gaining momentum. Not just electric cars, but also heavy equipment manufacturers are rolling out electric versions of their earlier diesel-driven models to meet their sustainability goals. Hence the push towards electrification in quarries is an important development which can be supported with standalone or hybrid options to cover unpredictable power loads.

The new buzzword in the sustainability guide is hybrid. There is a whole new world emerging for hybrid solutions to bring in better energy efficiency with a substantial impact on emission levels. Battery-based energy storage systems are becoming a crucial asset in the quarry equipment profile so that energy consumption is managed with high efficiency while minimizing costs, and quarries are more self-sufficient with clean energy sources.

In the quest to achieve sustainability goals, safe operations in quarries remain a priority while bringing in energy-efficient operations. Digitally connected intelligent machines dot the quarry landscape and reduce downtime while increasing efficiency in quarry operations.

Atlas Copco will be launching new intelligent controllers which will optimize energy generation, distribution and consumption through advanced data management to improve machine performance and efficiency.

With skilled design engineers and expertise in both generator and pump product development, a combined green solution engineered to dramatically reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is an expected outcome. New emerging technologies like submersible pumps operating with medium-sized battery packs will transform the hybrid canvas and further reduce the total cost of ownership in quarry operations.

For Atlas Copco, a quarry is not just a pit in the ground. It is a highly productive worksite which plays a crucial role in core infrastructure development such as roads, metros, expressways, airports, and highway expansion with its aggregate output. As quarries aim to complete the production cycle with as low as possible carbon footprint and with high productivity outcomes, Atlas Copco will focus on continuous innovations in engines, fuel, renewable energy, product design and other ways to calibrate a better balance between energy production and consumption.

With the ever-evolving new clean energy technologies from Atlas Copco’s generators, energy stoage systems, pumps and light towers, the journey towards more sustainable quarries is more well-defined and achievable.

Atlas Copco is committed to contributing to low carbon emissions with state-of-the-art advanced equipment serving various worksites, including quarries.